Active and modifiable data dictionary

ABSTRACT

An application may obtain a data object based on a data type from a data dictionary. The obtained data object may be copied and modified. The modifications may include, for example, adding, removing, and/or changing a property, built-in type, simple type, and/or complex type of the data object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the field of data dictionaries and, more particularly, to a system and method for an active and modifiable data dictionary.

BACKGROUND

A “data dictionary” is a repository of data types and the relationships between the data types. The term “data type” refers to information that defines the semantic and syntactic properties of operational data, such as the type, length, and relationships of operational data. The data types stored in a data dictionary may be used during both design time and runtime. The term “design time” refers to the design and development of computer software (or simply, software). The term “runtime” refers to the actual execution of software.

A conventional data dictionary may be integrated into a traditional client/server system. For example, a development client may be used to define a data type and store the defined data type in a data dictionary on the server system (or in a data source to which the server system has access). The defined data type may, for example, specify the structure of a database table for the traditional client/server system. Software executing on a client system may-access the defined data type and create a database table based on the defined data type.

Traditional client/server systems are implemented with a single stack of technology from the physical layer to the application layer. In traditional single stack client/server systems a single data source (e.g., a database system) provides the data for all clients interacting with the application servers. A model in which different parts of the technology stack are implemented by different vendors is replacing the traditional single stack model. In multi-vendor implementations of client/server systems, applications may request a wide range of data types from a data dictionary. Conventional data dictionaries are not desirable in multi-vendor implementations of client/server systems because they do not provide an efficient mechanism for supporting the wide range of data types that are used in multi-vender implementations of client/server systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of distributed system 100.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of distributed system 200 implemented to provide an active and modifiable data dictionary, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating design time data type 310 and run time data type 320.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating distributed system 400.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary DATA statement 400, suitable for requesting a data type according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary data types available in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the copying and modifying of object 710.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating certain aspects of a method for copying and modifying a data object based on an underlying data type according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of node 900 implemented according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for an active and modifiable data dictionary. In an embodiment, an application operating on an application server obtains an object based on a data type from a data dictionary. The obtained object is copied to create a second object. One or more properties of the second object are modified to create a modified object. The application uses the modified object while it is operating. As further described below, in one embodiment, the application server may obtain a Java object based on a runtime data type.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of distributed system 100 implemented to provide an active and modifiable data dictionary according to an embodiment of the invention. The illustrated embodiment of distributed system 100 includes: user layer 110, application layer 120, and data access layer 130. Some or all of the elements within each layer of distributed system 100 may be interconnected via a network (e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN) and/or the Internet). Alternative embodiments of distributed system 100 may include more layers, fewer layers, and/or different layers.

User layer 110 is the interface between distributed system 100 and one or more users. The illustrated embodiment of user layer 110 includes user terminals 114-119. One or more of user terminals 114-119 may collect user input and send it to application layer 120 over network connection 140. Network connection 140 may be a wired or wireless connection to a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and/or the Internet. User terminals 114-119 may be personal computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, telephones, and the like. In an embodiment in which network connection 140 connects to the Internet, one or more of user terminals 114-119 may have a Web browser to interface with the Internet.

In an embodiment, user layer 110 provides the presentation logic and the business logic for conventional distributed system 100. The term “presentation logic” refers to software that determines how information is provided to a user and how the user interacts with an application. The term “application” refers to software that performs work, such as data creation or manipulation. “Business logic” refers to software that performs data processing.

Application layer 120 includes application servers 122-124 and data dictionary 126. An application server broadly refers to a computing device that performs data processing. In a three-tier client/server environment, such as distributed system 100, application servers 122-124 may provide the business logic for distributed system 100. In an embodiment, application layer 120 includes a computing device (e.g., called a dispatcher) to perform load balancing among application servers 122-124. In an embodiment in which application layer 120 exchanges information with user layer 110 via the Internet, one or more of application servers 122-124 may be described as a Web application server. Application servers 122-124 may be implemented according to any of the Java 2 Enterprise Edition Specifications, for example, v1.4, published on Jul. 12, 2002 (hereinafter the J2EE Standard). The term J2EE application server broadly refers to an application server that implements, at least in part, one of the J2EE specifications.

Data dictionary 126 provides a repository of data types for distributed system 100. Data types include information that defines the semantic and syntactic properties of operational data, such as the type, length, and relationships of operational data. Data types defined in data dictionary 126 are, generally, available to applications operating on application servers 122-124. For example, applications operating on application servers 122-124 may use data or variables that are defined in data dictionary 126. In an embodiment, a first application executing on, for example, application server 123 may obtain an object based on a data type from data dictionary 126. Similarly, a second application executing on application server 123 (or another application server) may also obtain an object based on a data type from data dictionary 126. The first application may copy and modify the obtained object to produce a local working copy of the modified object. In an embodiment, the changes made to the object are not propagated to the object obtained by the second application. Thus, in an embodiment, one data type may support objects having different properties. As is further described below, in such an embodiment, the data dictionary may support a wide variety of objects based on a defined data type. In addition, services sitting on top of the data dictionary 126 may also use the defined data types and values.

Data access layer 130 provides a persistent data store for distributed system 100. The illustrated embodiment of data access layer 130 includes database computing device 134 and data source 136. Database computing device 134 may include database management systems (DBMSs). A DBMS refers to application software that controls the data in data source 136 including the overall organization of the data, retrieval of the data, and integrity of the data. Data source 136 may be, for example, a database or any other data source capable of providing a persistent data store.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of distributed system 200 implemented to provide an active and modifiable data dictionary, according to an embodiment of the invention. Distributed system 200 includes development client 210 and application servers 220 and 225. In an embodiment, data types 216 are defined by development client 210 during design time and stored in data dictionary 228. At runtime, the operational data for applications executing on application server 220 and 225 may be structured by the data types stored in data dictionary 228.

Development client 210 includes development tool 212, local XML files 214, and data types 216. Development tool 212 provides a software development environment for writing computer software. In an embodiment, development tool 212 is an implementation of the Eclipse Platform available under the Common Public License from the Eclipse Consortium (www.eclipse.org). In an alternative embodiment, development tool 212 may be a different development environment.

In an embodiment, data types 216 are data types that have been defined by development client 210. In an embodiment, some or all of the data types 216 may be transferred to data dictionary 228, for example, via network connection 240. Network connection 240 may be a LAN, WAN, MAN, and/or the Internet. In an embodiment, data types 216 are transferred over network connection 240 according to the Protocol described in Request For Comments (RFC) 2616 entitled, “HyperText Transport Protocol-HTTP/1.1,” June 1999 (hereinafter, the HTTP Protocol). In alternative embodiments of the invention, data may be transferred according to a different protocol.

Application server 220 includes J2EE server 224, proprietary application server 226, and data dictionary 228. J2EE server 224 is, for example, a Web application server that complies with the J2EE Standard. Proprietary application server 226 may be a proprietary application server to support user terminals that implement a proprietary distributed system. In an embodiment, J2EE server 224 and/or proprietary application server 226 structure operational data based, at least in part, on the data type definitions stored in data dictionary 228.

In an embodiment, the representation of a data type at design time is different than the representation of the data type at runtime. FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating design time data type 310 and run time data type 320. In an embodiment, design time data type 310 and runtime data type 320 are written in accordance with a schema that defines the legal (or permitted) structure for the elements that are the constitute parts of a data type. In an embodiment, the elements of design time data type 310 and runtime data type 320 may include, for example, properties, constraints, attributes, preexisting data types, built-in types and the like. A “property” refers to an element of a schema (or file) that provides information about data (e.g., whether the data is a string or an integer). A built-in type refers to an element that is “built-in” to the programming environment. A “preexisting data type” refers to a data type that has been previously defined.

In an embodiment, data types 310 and 320 comply with the Extensible Markup Language (XML) Schema Standard promulgated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) entitled, “XML Schema Part 1: Structures and XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes,” 2 May 2001 (hereinafter, the XML Schema Standard). In an embodiment, the elements of data types 310 and 320 comply with the XML standard promulgated by the W3C entitled, “Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Second Edition),” 6 Oct. 2000 (hereinafter, the XML Standard). In alternative embodiments of the invention, data types 300, 310, and 320 comply with a different schema standard and the elements within data types 300, 310, and 320 comply with a different language standard (e.g., a different markup language).

Design time data type 310 includes properties 312 and 314, pointer 316, and built-in type 318. Pointer 316 points to a preexisting data type 300 upon which data type 310 is based. For example, preexisting data type 300 may define a field. Data type 310, in turn, may define a table that includes the previously defined field. In the illustrated embodiment, built-in type 318 is any of the built-in types that are available to the programming language in which data type 318 is written. In an embodiment, built-in type 318 is one of the built-in types of the XML Standard. Properties 312 and 314 define attributes of data type 310. In an embodiment, properties 312 and 314 comply with the XML Standard. In an alternative embodiment, data type 310 inherits the properties of a previously existing data type (not shown). In such an embodiment, one or more properties of the preexisting data type may be modified (e.g., by overwriting the one or more properties) to create data type 310.

In an embodiment, generating process 330 converts design time data type 310 into runtime data type 320. Converting design time data type 310 into runtime data type 320 includes, in the illustrated example, replacing pointer 316 (which points to data type 300) with data type 300. For further information regarding replacing a pointer with a file (e.g., an XML file representing data type 300) see, for example, the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE), version 1.4.2, published June 2003 (hereinafter, the J2SE Standard).

In an embodiment, an application (not shown) builds Object 340 based on underlying data type 310. The term “object” refers to a self-contained entity that may consist of both data and procedures to manipulate the data. In an embodiment, Object 340 is an instance of the data type defined by data type 310. Object 340 is further discussed below with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating distributed system 400. In an embodiment, data dictionary 410 includes simple data type 412, complex data type 414, database data type 416, and user interface data type 418. Simple data type 412 and complex data type 414 are more fully described below with reference to FIG. 6.

In an embodiment, database data type 416 provides, at least in part, the semantic and syntactic definition of operational data for data access logic 430. Examples of database data type 416 include a definition of a database element, field, and/or table. Database data type 416 may specify properties for a database object including, for example, specifying a Java Database Connectivity driver (JDBC) with which the object may used. The term JDBC driver broadly refers to an Application Program Interface (API) that is bundled with the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE), version 1.4.2, published June 2003. In alternative embodiments of the invention, other APIs may be specified by database data type 416.

In an embodiment, User Interface (UI) data type 418 provides, at least in part, the semantic and syntactic definition of operational data for presentation logic 420. Examples of UI data type 418 include data types that determine the layout, composition, and/or color of objects that are displayed to a viewer (not shown). The properties of a UI data type may specify, for example, a field label, a column label, help text and the like. UI data type 318 is further described below with reference to FIG. 6.

A data type defines, for example, how data is stored in memory. Different data types may exist because data may be used differently in distributed system 400. For example, character-type data is typically used to store and display values, whereas numerical-type data is used to perform calculations. Examples of data types used in distributed system 400 are further described below with reference to FIG. 6. Also, certain applications may require specifically defined data types. For example, a JDBC driver may use data type 416, whereas a Web browser may use UI data type 418.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary data statement 500 that may be used to request a data type, in an embodiment of the invention. A data type defines the attributes of a data object. Reference numeral 510 illustrates that the requested data type is “c” which, in the illustrated embodiment, refers to a character-type data type. The requested data object may have a length of 15 characters as illustrated by reference numeral 520. The data type of a data object determines how an application will handle the data. Data statement 500 may be used to create a data object that an application can access via the name “text.” In the illustrated example, an application accessing the data object named “text” will store the object as character-type data in memory.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual illustration of data types available in an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, data types may be written or encoded in a markup language. A “markup language” refers to a computer software language in which labels are embedded within text to distinguish individual elements or groups of elements for display and/or identification purposes. The term “markup language based” refers to a software entity written, and/or encoded, and/or formatted in one of the markup languages. For example, in an embodiment, data types are encoded in one of the Extensible Markup Languages (XMLs) (e.g., the XML language specified by the XML Standard). The term “XML based” refers to a software entity written, and/or-encoded, and/or formatted in one of the XML languages.

In an embodiment, data types may be hierarchically organized into either scalar data type 610 or complex type 620. Scalar type 610 broadly refers to data types that hold a single data element such as an integer or a character. In an embodiment, scalar types may include: integer data types, string data types, floating point data types, and/or decimal data types.

Scalar type 610 includes built-in type 612 and simple type 614. Built-in type 612 represents scalar data types that are “built-in” to the schema that is used to define data types. In an embodiment, data types are structured according to the XML Schema Standard. In such an embodiment, built-in type 612 represents a built-in type of the XML Schema Standard. In alternative embodiments of the invention, built-in type 612 may represent a built-in type of another and/or a different standard.

In an embodiment, simple data type 614 represents a user defined scalar type. Simple data type 614 may be, for example, a user defined database data type (e.g., specifying a JDBC driver), a user defined UI data type (e.g., specifying the structure of a display), and/or previously defined data types from a proprietary system.

Complex type 620 refers to data types that hold multiple data items. In an embodiment, complex type 620 includes structure data type 630, list data type 640, and/or tree data type 650. In an embodiment, structure data type 630 contains one or more named fields. Each of the two or more named fields may contain a data type of any type. In an embodiment, flat structure data type 660 refers to a structured data type in which all of the named fields are scalar data types. List data type 640 refers to an ordered group of elements belonging to the same data type. In an embodiment, tree data type 650 refers to a data type having one root element and zero or more non-root elements. Each non-root element may have one predecessor element and zero, one, or more successor elements. Database table 662 may be a data type defining a database table. In an embodiment, database view 664 is a flat structure data type defining a logical view of one or more database tables.

Data types may be defined independently of the applications that use them. Applications may use data types to define data objects. The term “data object” refers to a self-contained module of data and its associated processing. In an embodiment, data objects comply with the Java Specification Request 12 entitled, “Java Data Objects (JDO) Specification,” Apr. 30, 2002.

In an embodiment, data objects (which are based on underlying data types) are copied and modified to form local data objects for an application. In an embodiment, data objects based on simple type data types are locally copied and modified. Copying and modifying data objects provides a mechanism to increase the variety of data objects that are supported by a data dictionary. FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the copying and modifying of object 710. Data object 710 is an instance of a data type that includes core data type 715, UI data type 720, and/or database data type 725. An application executing on an application server (e.g., J2EE Server 224, shown in FIG. 2) may create data object 710 in memory based on data types in a data dictionary (e.g., data dictionary 228, shown in FIG. 2). In an embodiment, data object 710 is an instance a simple type.

The application may copy data object 710 to create data object 730. In an embodiment, data object 730 may be referred to as a “local object” because it is used by the application that created it. In an embodiment, modifications made to a local object (e.g., data object 730) are not propagated to the underlying data type upon which the local object is based. Copying a data object may be performed according to, for example, the J2SE Standard. In an embodiment, methods may be called to add, remove, and/or change the constitute parts of data object 730. For example, database data type 725 may be removed and simple data type 745 may be added to data object 730. Similarly the properties of UI data type 720 may be changed to form UI data type 740. Modifying a data object is further described below with reference to FIG. 8.

Turning now to FIG. 8, the particular methods associated with embodiments of the invention are described in terms of computer software and hardware with reference to a flowchart. The methods to be performed by an active and modifiable data dictionary may constitute state machines or computer programs made up of computer-executable instructions. Describing the methods by reference to a flowchart enables one of ordinary skill in the art to develop such programs including such instructions to carry out the methods on suitably configured computing-devices (e.g., one or more processors of a node) executing the instructions from computer-accessible media. The computer-executable instructions may be written in a computer programming language or may be embodied in firmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety of hardware platforms and for interface to a variety of operating systems. In addition, embodiments of the invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein. Furthermore, it is common in the art to speak of software, in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure, process, application, etc.), as taking an action or causing a result. Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of saying that execution of the software by a computing device causes the device to perform an action or produce a result.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating certain aspects of a method for copying and modifying a data object based on an underlying data type according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to process block 810, an application obtains an object based on a data type from a data dictionary (e.g., with exemplary data statement 500, shown in FIG. 5). In an embodiment, the application obtains a Java object based on a runtime data type from the data dictionary. The term “Java object” refers to a data object that conforms with a Java language standard such as the J2SE Standard and/or the J2EE Standard. In an embodiment, the request to obtain the data object complies with Java Specification Request 12 entitled, “Java Data Object Specification,” Apr. 30, 2002 (hereinafter, the JDO Specification). In alternative embodiments of the invention, the request to obtain the data object may comply with additional and/or other specifications. The application may be, for example a development tool or part of the business logic of a distributed system. The request may be, for example, a request for an object based on scalar data type or based on a complex data type.

Referring to process block 820, the obtained data object is copied to create a second data object. The copied data object is modified to create a modified data object at reference numeral 830. Modifying the data object broadly refers changing, adding, and/or deleting an element (e.g., property, built-in type, simple type, complex type) of the data object. In an embodiment, modifying the data object refers to, for example, modifying a database property of the data object (e.g., changing which JDBC driver is referenced). Modifying the data object may also include, for example, modifying a user interface property of the data object. For example, a field label property of the data object may be changed to alter text that is displayed to a viewer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of node 900 implemented according to an embodiment of the invention. Node 900 may include: processor(s) 910, memory 920, one or more Input/Output devices 930, network interface(s) 940, and data dictionary 950. The illustrated elements may be connected together through system interconnection 980. Processor(s) 910 may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), central processing unit (CPU), programmable logic device (PLD), and similar devices that access instructions from system storage (e.g., memory 920), decode them, and execute those instructions by performing arithmetic and logical operations. In an embodiment, data dictionary 950 provides one more scalar and/or complex data types to define-operational data objects for node 900.

Memory 920 may encompass a wide variety of memory devices including read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), random access memory (RAM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), cache memory, flash memory, and other memory devices. Memory 920 may also include one or more hard disks, floppy disks, ZIP disks, compact disks (e.g., CD-ROM), digital versatile/video disks (DVD), magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices, and other system-readable media that store instructions and/or data. Memory 920 may store program modules such as routines, programs, objects, images, data structures, program data, and other program modules that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types that facilitate system use.

One or more I/O devices 930 may include a hard disk drive interface, a magnetic disk drive interface, an optical drive interface, a parallel port, serial controller or super I/O controller, serial port, universal serial bus (USB) port, a display device interface (e.g., video adapter), a network interface card (NIC), a sound card, modem, and the like. System interconnection 980 permits communication between the various elements of node 900. System interconnection 980 may include a wide variety of signal lines including one or more of a memory bus, peripheral bus, local bus, host bus, bridge, optical, electrical, acoustical, and other propagated signal lines.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or more references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternative embodiment” in various portions of this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the invention.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 

1. A computer-implemented method for obtaining different objects based on a single data type comprising: obtaining an object based on a data type from a data dictionary in an application server; making a first copy of the obtained object to create a first local object; modifying a property of the first local object to create a first modified object; making a second copy of the obtained object to create a second local object; and modifying a property of the second local object to create a second modified object.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: obtaining a Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: obtaining the Java object based on a runtime data type from the data dictionary.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein obtaining the Java object based on the runtime data type from the data dictionary comprises: obtaining the Java object based on a runtime simple data type from the data dictionary.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein obtaining the Java object based on the runtime data type from the data dictionary comprises: obtaining the Java object based on a runtime complex data type from the data dictionary.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: modifying a user interface property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the user interface property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: modifying a field label property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the field label property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: modifying text to be displayed on a screen.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the user interface property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: modifying a column label property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: modifying a database property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein modifying the database property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: specifying a Java Database Connectivity driver for the first modified object.
 12. An application server comprising: a data dictionary to provide a plurality of data types; and a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain an object based on a data type from the data dictionary, make a first copy of the obtained object to create a first local object, modify a property of the first local object to create a first modified object; make a second copy of the obtained object to create a second local object; and modify a property of the second local object to create a second modified object.
 13. The application server of claim 12, wherein the plurality of data types are Extensible Markup Language (XML) based data types.
 14. The application server of claim 13, wherein the processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain a Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary.
 15. The application server of claim 14, wherein the processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on a runtime data type from the data dictionary.
 16. The application server of claim 15, wherein the processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on the runtime data type from the data dictionary comprises: a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on a runtime simple data type from the data dictionary.
 17. The application server of claim 15, wherein the processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on a runtime complex data type from the data dictionary.
 18. The application server of claim 17, wherein the processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on the runtime complex data type from the data dictionary comprises: a processor and logic executable thereon to obtain the Java object based on a flat structure data type from the data dictionary.
 19. The application server of claim 12, wherein the data type from the data dictionary is a database data type.
 20. The application server of claim 19, wherein the application server is a Web application server.
 21. The application server of claim 20, wherein the Web application server is a Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) application server.
 22. A system comprising: means for obtaining an object based on a data type from a data dictionary in an application server; means for making a first copy of the obtained object to create a first local object; means for modifying a property of the first local object to create a first modified object; means for making a second copy of the obtained object to create a second local object; and means for modifying a property of the second local object to create a second modified object.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for obtaining the object based on the data type from the data dictionary comprises: a means for obtaining a Java object based on a runtime data type from the data dictionary.
 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for modifying the property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: means for modifying a user interface property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for modifying the property of the first local object to create the first modified object comprises: means for modifying a database property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 26. An article of manufacture comprising: an electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to obtain an object based on a data type from a data dictionary in an application server; make a first copy of the obtained object to create a first local object; modify a property of the first local object to create a first modified object; make a second copy of the obtained object to create a second local object; and modify a property of the second local object to create a second modified object.
 27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to obtain the object based on the data type from the data dictionary include instructions that cause the apparatus to obtain a Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary.
 28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on the data type from the data dictionary include instructions that cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on a runtime data type from the data dictionary.
 29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on the runtime data type from the data dictionary include instructions that cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on a runtime simple data type from the data dictionary.
 30. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on the runtime data type from the data dictionary include instructions that cause the apparatus to obtain the Java object based on a runtime complex data type from the data dictionary.
 31. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to modify the property of the first local object to create the first modified object include instructions that cause the apparatus to modify a user interface property of the first local object to create the first modified object.
 32. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to modify the property of the first local object to create the first modified object include instructions that cause the apparatus to modify a database property of the first local object to create the first modified object. 